Tools for Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community (Kim Klein's Fundraising Series) [Paperback]

Joan Minieri (Author), Paul Getsos (Author), Kim Klein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787979090 | ISBN-13: 978-0787979096 | Publication Date: July 27, 2007 | Edition: 1

Tools for Radical Democracy is an essential resource for grassroots organizers and leaders, students of activism and advocacy, and anyone trying to increase the civic participation of ordinary people. Authors Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos share stories and tools from their nationally recognized and award-winning work of building a community-led organization, training community leaders, and conducting campaigns that changed public policy and delivered concrete results to tens of thousands of people. This how-to manual includes: 

 

·        In-depth analysis of how to launch and win a campaign

·        Tools and guidelines for training people to lead their own campaigns and organizations

·        Insights for using technology effectively, building more powerful alliances, and engaging in the social justice movement  

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"if you're looking for a practical how-to guide to building community power without a lot of excursions into the ins and outs of fundraising, Tools is just the ticket." (Philanthropy News Digest, 03/04/08)

" It is well-organized and easy to use." (CharityVillage.com, 10/29/2007)

"…it is refreshing to see a book that focuses downward- at the community level- and outward- at social movements." (Nonprofit Online News, 09/05/2007)

"The authors offer a guide to involving and organizing others -- especially the most marginalized members of society -- in a social-justice movement. Throughout the book are examples of meeting agendas, campaign plans, surveys to determine the key issues that are important to local residents, lists of desired qualities in community-organizing leaders, and other resources that can serve as templates." --Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 10, 2008

Review

This book provides the nuts and bolts for how people and communities that start on the margins can move to center stage. Tools for Radical Democracy shines the spotlight on what works, and will help spark the next generation of social change movements. To be sure, our country is in dire need of such techniques.”—Andy Stern, president, Service Employees International Union, CTW, CLC

“This manual is an organizer’s organizer. I hope many people will put this to use.”—Heather Booth, founder and president, Midwest Academy

“This book is ‘the secret’ for building collective power for long-term social change.”

—Nat Chioke Williams, executive director, Hill Snowdon Foundation

“Minieri and Getsos provide real-world examples of how ordinary people can become leaders who effect positive change. This book will be required reading for our staff and recommended reading for all our members.”—Janet S. Keating, codirector, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

“Students, scholars, and social activists alike will find something to their tastes in this how-to guide for rebuilding democracy from the ground up.”—Joaquin Herranz Jr., assistant professor, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington

“Tools for Radical Democracy is for all people who feel themselves closed out by the decisions that affect their lives. Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos bring their solid experience in building a cooperative and forceful voice to the story of a community out and acting powerfully.”—Colin Greer, president, The New World Foundation

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (July 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787979090
• ISBN-13: 978-0787979096
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars building community by organizing, November 23, 2007

By 

Mary Ann Mcgivern "community activist" (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tools for Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community (Kim Klein's Fundraising Series) (Paperback)

Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos are community organizers. They built Community Voices Heard with low-income women. In this book they tell us how they did it -- the big ideas, the strategies, and the step-by-step actions. They chart how to recruit leadership, give advice about tracking members, urge us to take the time to reflect on our field work so we better understand what people tell us.
This 438 page book is not meant to be read or swollowed whole. At least I can't do that. I use a chapter or just a couple of pages with board, staff, and volunteers as a task guide. Or I hand it to an intern and say, "See if you can find some good advice for us in here."
If your group gets stuck sometimes, if you ever get stuck, this book has a lot of useful tools to get moving again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could be titled Organizing 101, February 8, 2009

By 

Ann Jordan "Retired in LA" (Foley, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tools for Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community (Kim Klein's Fundraising Series) (Paperback)

As a retired labor organizer from a major union, I have never been able to recommend anything for folks to read except Saul Alinsky's, Rules for Radicals. Although I still think anyone interested should make this their first read, I strongly recommend Tools for Radical Democracy as their working text. It is thorough and has many "ready to go" forms for those who have never done community organizing.

Hats off to the authors...let's go organize!

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and inspiring, January 1, 2012

By 

Sheri A. Smith "maqwa" (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tools for Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community (Kim Klein's Fundraising Series) (Paperback)

Based in the real life experience of very skilled community activists whose desire is to share their knowledge. Buy this book and spread the ideas that people working together can create positive change in our neighborhoods.